In total, the
bill will increase Department of Defense spending by $23.6 billion over
President Obama's fiscal year 2017 request. These funds are badly
needed to improve the readiness of our Armed Forces and to continue our
campaign to defeat ISIL. This bill includes the largest investment in border security in
nearly a
decade. Additional funding is provided for fencing and other physical
infrastructure, communications and surveillance technology, the hiring
of additional agents, and additional detention beds to help stop the
practice of catch and release. These funds will help reduce human
trafficking and the flow of illegal drugs into our country. While the additional funds for defense and border security have
received much of the attention, there are many other important programs
that are funded within the bill. For the second year in a row, providing funding for research at the
National Institutes of Health is increased by $2 billion. New funding
is included to combat the opioid epidemic that has plagued communities
across the country.
Keywords matched
border security